India - Immigration
India Immigration Procedure for Yacht Crew
Do I need a Visa?
All visitors entering India are required to possess:
- a valid passport at least six months validity from the date of arrival in India with at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer – passports must be machine-readable;
- a valid visa obtained in advance.
It can be very expensive if it is necessary to make an emergency stop here and you arrive without a visa. You may be immediately escorted to the airport and deported.
Types of Visa
E-Visa:
To obtain a visa online via the e-visa application system, see the Government of India website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/.
The Indian Government site advises against using an intermediary or agent who promises to ‘fast track’ your application and then charges extra money for it. Also to only use the official site (above) for any kind of service or clarification.
- For a list of all countries eligible for an e-visa see here.
- It is possible to get a 30-day or 1-year e-visa.
- E-visa applications may take 72 hours or more to process.
- There may be a 2.5% fee for paying by credit card.
- For Paypal, a 3.5% of the applicable e-visa fee.
- Persons holding an e-visa will be allowed to enter into India only through the designated international airports and the following five designated seaports: Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, New Mangalore. Therefore an e-visa for the Andamans is not possible.
e-Tourist Visa (30 days)
May apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. Such application can be made 30 days in advance from the proposed date of travel. The validity would be 30 days from the date of first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first arrival must be between the date of issue and the expiry of ETA.
e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years)
May apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. Such an application can be made 120 days in advance from the proposed date of travel. The validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and continuous stay during each visit which shall not exceed 90 days except for nationals of USA, UK, Canada, and Japan. In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.
Other Visas:
A very limited number of countries can obtain a visa on arrival.
Visa Extensions
For information on how to extend your visa, visit the webpage of India’s Bureau of Immigration.
Do not exceed visa dates. Overstaying can yield significant fines or detention.
Notes
- On arrival, yachtsmen are free to travel to most areas of India. A special permit, obtainable from either Indian embassies abroad or the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, is necessary to visit certain areas, such as Sikkim, or the North-East frontier states. The area near Tibet is out of bounds for foreign nationals. For more information, see the Entry to Restricted or Protected Areas section of India’s Bureau of Immigration website.
- When clearing out of a port with the intention of visiting another Indian port DO NOT get an exit stamp in your passport. You only need to visit Immigration when you finally clear out of India. If you get an exit stamp, you will need to clear in again. If you have no multi-entry visa, you may be forced to reapply for a new visa.
- The ban on re-entering India for two months after leaving no longer applies, except for nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistan origin, and Stateless persons.
- Foreign nationals arriving in India on long-term multiple entry visas must register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer within 14 days of arrival.
Last updated: February 2024
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We cleared in at Kochi after sending pre-arrival notification (PANS). First Port (Harbor) Control came to see us, but they asked questions without coming on board. Then Health, who came on board, did a temperature check but no masks required (and he did not ask about our vaccination status) and finally Port Marina and Immigration.
They all had 3 copies of questionnaires and wanted to know the last 10 ports visited(one wanted to know the last 10 countries visited). They wanted to see the ships papers, number, port registration, etc. etc. They wrote everything down on all 3 copies.
The day after the visits on board, we had to visit the office of immigration. They entered some of the data into a computer. Then we had to go to the Port Marina office and answer some more questions. We had to pay (me and 1 crew) around 1200 rupies (approx. $15). We got a statement that we would be allowed to leave the anchorage and move to the marina. Then we had to go to customs .. which by mistake were not informed. A questionnaire was prepared and a Customs officer went with us in the dinghy back to the boat. He inspected the boat and put the Iridium Go phone in a compartment and sealed it. Then he wrote down some food we had .. white beans 3 cans, red beans 2 cans, fruit peach 2 cans … and so forth.
Back at the Customs office he guided us to another Customs department where my ships papers were taken as a deposit. We then had to wait around 30 minutes while that guy then got some other departments informed. Then we could leave.
There is a local guy that helps you. He and his brother took over the “service” from their father. He contacts sailors and offers help. He is not a clearing agent nor an approved importer, but he knows his way around all the offices. He’s called Nisam – phone +91 97464 62686.
27 hours after arrival we could proceed to the marina.
In general India (or at least the state of Kerala), probably doesn’t understand the cash / income they could make with yachts visiting. Maitenance of the marina is bad.
What comes first? Infrastructure for boats or the boats? I would not recommend others to stop here.
E-Visa normally processed in 72hours not 60days. Took 12 hours for our visas to be granted.
Lakshadweep Islands: Update received from Indian boat owner who was granted a permit to visit these islands for a period of 9 days in February 2015. He reports that the process is difficult and one must push to get an answer from the Island Administrator. See RESTRICTIONS above in the Formalities section for details of how to apply for a permit.
Posted on behalf of Brian Thurlow from Cochin, India:
It is difficult, or nearly impossible for foreign boats to visit the Lakshadweep Islands. We have one Indian owned catamaran in the marina who did the trip last year with at least one European crew. I will contact him for details. He said it was difficult, but not impossible. Waiting for an update.
Does anyone have any info on visiting the Lakshadweep islands?
Was in Kochi (Cochin) at the end of February 2014 on s/y Anima. Stay in International Marina. You must anchor off near Port Control for clearance. Port security comes onboard to check the boat, after that you will go ashore with a security officer for customs and immigration. Be ready to spend a whole day (or more, if you come on Sunday). After clearance, you’ll go to the Harbourmaster office to take permission to go to Marina. Channel to the marina is good markered, but not so good dragged – there was 1.8 minimal depth at MHWS, take care! Marina is empty but still works. Maybe you will meet Bebe – tuk-tuk driver. You can solve almost any problem with his assistance.